Tongue-tie and breast feeding

Yes, my baby had a tongue tie and I was referred to the infant feeding team and they will arrange to get it sorted for you. The procedure is dead quick and doesn’t hurt them. I’d try and do this as soon as you can so your baby can develop a good suck. Contact your midwife? Good luck! My baby girl is feeding much better now ☺️

Thank you @Sophie I have been referred but the waiting list is really long in my area. A friend suggested going private- I may have to because I can’t wait weeks. So glad your little one has learnt a better technique. I’m scared if it takes a long time to get done he’ll be stuck with a shallow latch 😢

Yes private costs about £250 and they’ll fit you in pretty much straight away. My brother had it with his baby. Don’t worry about the match, if you got to a breastfeeding support appointment they will help you. You can do that in the meantime anyway? Your midwife should be able to direct you

I went private 6 days after my little girl was born as advised by my midwife. She couldn’t latch properly and ripped my nipples to shreds. It made a massive difference for her straight away so I’d highly recommend, it’s worth the £200 I paid. Keep using the cream on your nipples, mine healed within 5 days and I also bought a pump which was good for keeping the milk in.

Yea, but I couldn’t wait the 2 weeks on the nhs to have it cut so went privately x

Find your local breastfeeding support group. They might be able to provide advice and support to feed from the breast whilst you wait. If you would like a guide of all the support available in the post partum period, feel free to grab my guide here https://childcarenavigator.co.uk/availablesupportguide

All my kids have had tongue tie, first done privately as he was born on Christmas Day and was advised to go private (he was severely jaundiced). Second child breast milk was still there so came in easily and he gained weight steadily. Waited for a referral to come through for Kings which took 8 weeks. Just had my third’s tongue tie surgery (Kent based) on Wednesday after waiting about 2.5 weeks from point of referral (originally advised the wait would be 4-5 weeks). While waiting I had no choice but to use bottles and express breast milk as he had a complete tongue tie (front to back, 100% tongue tie).

We went private and had appointment within days

If I just persisted with breast feeding he would have utterly destroyed my nipples. I mainly used bottles and then once/twice a day did breast feeding. Since tongue tie division he started off with a very poor and shallow latch but it’s improved since and it is getting better. I will keep working on it with him and maybe attend breastfeeding support group in my area.

@Charlii 2 weeks? We were told the NHS wait would be 8 weeks 😬 guess it depends where you live

Your health visiting team infant feeding service may have someone available quicker, if not it says you are in Gloucester and there’s a few private lactation consultants near you. It’s usually about £150-200 for private but can be worth it. Use the association of tongue-tie practitioners to find someone local to you x

Had my LO tongue tie corrected when he was 6days old. Latch was shallow for the next couple of weeks and milk was at a very minimal amount but safe to say we’re doing much better now and he’s latching well too. I’d say go private if you can afford the £200-£250 as the earlier it’s done, the better for both of you. Lo would have to relearn how to use his tongue and can get very frustrating for them when they are already used to a certain way of suckling

@Emmo yeah I guess so, but 8 weeks seems crazy!! I wasn’t happy about the 2 weeks to be honest. I’m in Essex.